Man Who Torched Black Church Gets Nine-Year Term

Do you all recall what happened shortly after President Barack Obama was elected into office? If not, let’s press rewind this afternoon on a story that’s been addressed today.

Our president, Barack Obama.

Just hours after the election results were announced, a group of three white men took it upon themselves to make a statement against the processes that gained our country its first African American president. You would think that as triumphant as that moment was, people would have had the courage and the inspiration to succeed at anything they put their minds to. Well, ironically, the three white men ended up making that statement by burning down a predominantly black church in Springfield, Massachusetts as a result.

Fast forward to this week where one of the three men has pleaded guilty to a variety of civil rights charges in a plea deal that will put him behind bars for nine years. Now keep in mind, Benjamin Haskell is only 23-years-old. Shocking, huh? And now he’s pled guilty to charges that destroyed the Macedonia Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) in the morning hours of November 5, 2008, the day after Obama was elected into office. Sentencing is currently scheduled for Haskell on September 29th.

Benjamin Haskell, 23, one of three men accused in a racially charged church arson in 2008, pleaded guilty to the crime this week.

So what do you guys think? Haskell faces charges of conspiracy to violate civil rights and damaging of religious property because of race, color and ethnic characteristics, but does his plea make you think about the institution of racism all over again? How do we examine issues like this without falling into the trap of hatred ourselves? Do you have any views of post-slavery race relations? Post your responses below and share with us what’s your opinion.

Looking for additional background info on the reports? Visit BlackAmericaWeb.com for full details and tell us what you think of it all by posting in the comments section below. There’s also more coverage available on MassLive.com, too.

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